The formal announcement was scheduled for noon at an elaborate “red carpet” luncheon.

"This will be wonderful for agriculture," said Don Chase, chairman of the board of the Eastern States Exposition. "It will give us the lifeblood to keep going 50, 100 years."

Speakers will include Hard Rock representatives Jim Allen and John Galloway, as well as West Springfield mayor Gregory Neffinger.

Asked what questions he would like today's presentation to answer, Chicopee mayor Michael Bissonnette said, "How are they going to get traffic in and out?"

Neffinger said "lots of studies" would be involved in the process of figuring out how to deal with the increase in traffic a casino would generate.

On the issue of whether West Springfield voters would approve a casino in their community, Neffinger said "It is a process. A lot will depend on the presentation today. If it is across the river we have no control. Here, we can have control."

Musician Bret Michaels of the band Poison was scheduled to perform at today's announcement.

"Backstage and ready to perform at the announcement event for Hard Rock Hotel & Casino New England at the Eastern States Exposition in Western Mass. Hope New England is ready to rock with the world’s best entertainment brand," Michaels wrote in a post to his Twitter and Tumblr accounts shortly before 11 a.m. Friday.

Michaels took the stage around noon, opening with Poison's 1988 cover of the 1972 Loggins and Messina hit "Your Mama Don't Dance."

"You've got to have a wow factor, man," Gene Cassidy, chief executive officer of the Eastern States Exposition, said prior to the performance.